Leaf-spring.



W. S. HOPKINS.

LEAF SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1915- 1,204,876. Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS--SHEET amen W01,

l/VINFIELD S. HOPKINS, F SELMA, CALIFORNIA.

MAE-SPRING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916,

Application filed November 6, 1915. Serial No. 60,098.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVINriaLn S. Hoe- KINS, a citiien of the UnitedStates, residing'at Selma. in the county of Fresno and State ofCalifornia. have invented new and useful Improvements in Leaf Springs,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in leaf springs of the typeemploying. antifriction balls between the leaves, and has particularapplication to a retainer for such balls.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide aretainer of the class described whereby the ballsmay be held in properrelative positions between the leaves of the spring so as to reduce thefriction between such leaves to a minimum in the use of the. spring,thereby enabling the spring to yield to its fullest extent so as toeliminate the transmission of shocks and jars to'the body of the vehicleequipped with the spring when the. wheels encounter obstructions anddepressions in'the roadway. It is also my purpose to provide a retainerof the classdescribed which will embrace the desired features ofsimplicity, efficiency and durability, which will operate effectivelyfor its intended purposes under all conditions and which may bemanufactured and marketed at small cost.

With the above recited objects in view and others of a similar naturethe invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangementof parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a view in side elevation ofone member of a leaf spring constructed in accordance with my presentinvention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view therethrough. Fig. 3 isan enlarged side elevation of one of the retainers removed from thespring. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough; Fig. 5 isa cross sectional view through the same. Fig. 6 is a view in sideelevatlon of a modified form of the retainer. Fig. 7 is an end viewofthc same. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a further modified form of theinvention. Fig. 9 is a mentary' side elevation of a leaf spring equippedwith a modified form of'niy invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 designates a leaf spring ofsuitable con- .jacent edges struction embodying leaves 2, placed oneupon another in face to face contact and secured together in springformation by means of clips or analogous fastening devices 3.

interposed between the confronting faces of adjoining leaves-are ballretainers 4 spaced apart appropriate distances longitudinally of thespring and each extending transversely of the spring. In the presentinstance, each retainer icomprises a. stri 5 constructed of any suitablematerial and formed with a longitudinal slot 6 opening on to one end ofthe strip with grooves 8 respectively. Disposed within the slot 6 andthe grooves 8,--in the side walls of theslot are balls 9 projectingabove and below the strip and heldwithin the slot by means of thegrooved side walls thereof. Threaded into the open end 7 of each slot isa plug 10 acting to hold the balls against accidental dislodgnient fromthe slot. These balls 9 engage the confront ing surfaces of the adjacentleaves of the spring and such leaves in the use of the Spring so as toreduce friction between the individual leaves and enable the spring toyield readily and to its fullest extent. In this instance, the oppositeends of the strip 5 of each retainer are formed with lugs 11respectively arranged at right angles to the strip and engaging theopposite edges respectively of an adjacent leaf and formed in these lugs11 are axial alining openings 12 throu h which is passed a bolt 13engaging t e lower side of the particular leaf of the spring and actingto hold the retainer securely in place.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 6 the lugs 11 aredispensed with and each end of the strip is formed with an upturned lip1 and adownturned lip 15. The upturnedilips bind against the adof theupper leaf while the downturned lips engage the corresponding edges ofthe bottom leaf and cotiperate with the upturned lips to hold theretainer in proper position between the leaves of the spring. I p

If desired, the balls 7 may beset into a slot in each retainer inindividual cages 16, as illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, thesecages serving to hold the balls of each retainer spaced apart from oneanother so asati'andhaw' mg the opposite longitudinal walls formedpermit relative movement of that the same may act independently of.

nates all friction between the leaves and permits the leaves to actindividually as well as collectively.

I claim 1. A ball retainer of the class described, comprising a stripformed with a longitudinal slot opening on to one end thereof,

the opposite side Walls of said slot being formed with grooves, ballsWithin said slot and grooves and held Within the slot by means of thegrooves and-a plug closing the open end of said slot.

2 'A ball retainer of the class described, comprising a strip formedwith a longitudinal slot opening on to one end thereof, the oppositeside walls of said slot being formed with grooves, balls Within saidslot and grooves and held within the slot by means of the grooves, aplug closing the open end of said slot, and retaining means on the endsof said strip.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

- WINFIELD S. HOPKINS.

. Witnesses:

E. E. SHEPARD, M. F. GOULARTE.

